Skip to main content

A collection of the most compelling images of the aftermath of one of Japan's largest recorded earthquakes

Open this photo in gallery:

An earthquake-triggered tsunami washes away a warehouse and vehicles in Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture, Japan, Friday March 11, 2011.Keiichi Nakane

1 of 30
Open this photo in gallery:

A factory building has collapsed in Sukagawa city, Fukushima prefecture, in northern Japan on March 11, 2011.FUKUSHIMA MINPO

2 of 30
Open this photo in gallery:

Fires burn in a harbour following an earthquake and tsunami in Natori City, Miyagi PrefectureKYODO

3 of 30
Open this photo in gallery:

Residents walk through buildings collapsed by a powerful earthquake in Iwaki, Fukushima prefecture, Japan, Friday, March 11, 2011.

4 of 30
Open this photo in gallery:

A massive tsunami sweeps in to engulf a residential area after a powerful earthquake in NatoriKYODO

5 of 30
Open this photo in gallery:

Residents check the damage done to a road house in Sukagawa city, Fukushima prefecture, in northern Japan on March 11, 2011.FUKUSHIMA MINPO

6 of 30
Open this photo in gallery:

A pedestrian road has collapsed in the massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake in Urayasu city, Chiba prefecture on March 11, 2011.TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA

7 of 30
Open this photo in gallery:

People at a book store react as the store's ceiling falls in Sendai, northern Japan Friday, March 11, 2011.

8 of 30
Open this photo in gallery:

Fishing boats get stranded on shore at Oarai town, Ibaraki prefecture, Japan, after a ferocious tsunami spawned by one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded slammed Japan's eastern coasts on March 11, 2011.

9 of 30
Open this photo in gallery:

Evacuees stand around Shinjuku Central Park in Tokyo on March 11, 2011.KYODO

10 of 30
Open this photo in gallery:

The owner of a ceramic shop checks his damaged wares following the massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake in Tokyo on March 11, 2011.YOSHIKAZU TSUNO

11 of 30
Open this photo in gallery:

Sendai Airport is swept by a tsunami after an earthquake, in northeastern JapanKYODO

12 of 30
Open this photo in gallery:

Sendai Airport is surrounded by waters in Miyagi prefecture, Japan, after a ferocious tsunami spawned by one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded slammed Japan's eastern coast Friday, March 11, 2011.

13 of 30
Open this photo in gallery:

This National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) image released on March 11, 2011 shows a model run from the Center for Tsunami Research at the NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory showing the expected wave heights of the tsunami as it travels across the Pacific basin.HO

14 of 30
Open this photo in gallery:

A massive tsunami hits the coastal areas of Iwanuma, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern JapanKYODO

15 of 30
Open this photo in gallery:

A chimney falls onto its factory in Sendai, Miyagi prefecture, Japan, after one of the largest earthquakes on record slammed Japan's eastern coasts Friday, March 11, 2011.

16 of 30
Open this photo in gallery:

Buildings burn after an earthquake near Sendai Airport, northeastern JapanKYODO

17 of 30
Open this photo in gallery:

Houses swept by a tsunami smoulder near Sendai Airport in JapanKYODO

18 of 30
Open this photo in gallery:

Cars and airplanes swept by a tsunami are pictured among debris at Sendai Airport, northeastern JapanKYODO

19 of 30
Open this photo in gallery:

A road is blocked by a landslide near Iwaki City in northeastern JapanKYODO

20 of 30
Open this photo in gallery:

Houses are swept by water following a tsunami and earthquake in Natori CityKYODO

21 of 30
Open this photo in gallery:

Fishing boats and vehicles are carried by a tsunami wave at Onahama port in Iwaki city, in Fukushima prefecture, northern Japan on March 11, 2011.FUKUSHIMA MINPO

22 of 30
Open this photo in gallery:

Natural gas storage tanks burn at a facility in Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo.KYODO

23 of 30
Open this photo in gallery:

An office building burns in Tokyo after an earthquakeKYODO

24 of 30
Open this photo in gallery:

A truck remains stranded on a road damaged by a powerful earthquake in Iwaki city, Fukushima prefecture (state), Japan, Friday, March 11, 2011.

25 of 30
Open this photo in gallery:

Vehicles are crushed by a collapsed wall at a carpark in Mito city in Ibaraki prefecture on March 11, 2011 after a massive earthquake rocked Japan.JIJI PRESS

26 of 30
Open this photo in gallery:

A whirlpool is seen near Oarai City, Ibaraki Prefecture, northeastern JapanKYODO

27 of 30
Open this photo in gallery:

This National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) image released on March 11, 2011 shows Maximum wave amplitudes calculated with the MOST forecast model.HO

28 of 30
Open this photo in gallery:

People walk by a ruined bus stop which was crushed by part of fallen outer wall of a nearby building in Sendai, Miyagi prefecture, Japan.

29 of 30
Open this photo in gallery:

Buildings burn following an earthquake in Yamada town, JapanYOMIURI

30 of 30

Interact with The Globe